Starting a comment period about carrying Eden Foods products

My apologies, I should have posted the link to our action steps here as well as the other places we posted it. Here is the link.

UPDATED 8/4/14

The comment period has now closed. Thank you to all who shared your feedback; we will discuss it and determine how to proceed based on comments and changes in sales of Eden Foods products. We will report the resolution here, on social media, and in the newsletter.

UPDATED 7/22/14

We have received a statement from Eden Foods and are sharing it below. We are posting this only for your information; you should not consider this posting an endorsement of the contents of the statement. See the original letter here.

Eden Foods Statement

Ladies and Gentlemen,Eden Foods is a 46 year, independent, principled food company. We took ourstand against GMOs 21 years ago. We build relations and business with organicgrowers and traditional food makers, nurturing more than 370 family farms withover 86,000 acres of healthy organic farmland. Eden Foods buys from and paysfarmers directly.

Last year we observed that aspects of the Affordable Care Act were illegal andviolated religious freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, so we filed a formalobjection. Our case is against government overreach and about religious freedom.Eden Foods frowns on myopic pharmaceutical medicine and toxic chemicaldependent agriculture.

Prior to the Affordable Care Act, prescription drugs were an opt-in opt-outfeature of health insurance plans Eden Foods offered its employees. Lifestyle drugs,as named and managed by the insurance industry, were excluded, such as viagra.Today, 34% of Eden Foods employees select prescription coverage for their plan,while 66% do not choose prescription drug coverage.

Since the inception of the Affordable Care Act all employees have all coveragesrequired by the act, even those who do not want it.

Eden employee benefits include health, dental, vision, life insurances, and a 50%401k match. "e benefit plan is managed by Eden Foods with a goal of long-termsustainability.

We are grateful for our silent supporters sending us messages directly, avoidingabuse that may befall them on social media. "e coordinated attack on Eden Foodsusing fallacious arguments and our brand to further others’ unrelated agendas,is best ignored.

We encourage everyone to be discerning, retailers in the food they offer andconsumers in the selections they make acquiring nourishing food. We work to makefamily grown, authentically organic food available and seek to work with othersinvolved in like pursuits.

We would love to see people become so motivated in their support of organicagriculture and toward the improvement of our nation's food system.

ORIGINAL POST BELOW:

A higher-than-average number of Owners have raised objections to the Co-op continuing to carry Eden Foods. The Owners who have already commented feel that the company’s legal action to avoid providing certain types of health care coverage for certain people may run contrary to our Food and Product Selection Philosophy.

On March 20, 2013, Eden Foods filed suit against the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) for the right to opt out of contraceptive coverage for its employees (Eden Foods, Inc v. Sylvia Burwell). Eden Foods objects to a provision of the Affordable Care Act requiring companies that offer employee health care to cover an array of contraceptive choices. Eden Foods is among roughly 70 companies objecting to contraceptive coverage on account of religious freedoms. The case has been reopened in court.

Burwell v. Hobby Lobby was a Supreme Court case decided on June 30, 2014. The plaintiffs were Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. and Conestoga Wood Specialties. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, who refused to pay on religious grounds for emergency contraceptive pills and intrauterine devices as part of their employee health care. Eden Foods was not a plaintiff in this case, however, in their Burwell v. Hobby Lobby ruling, the Supreme Court ordered the lower courts to reconsider their earlier decisions against Eden Foods.

The Co-op appreciates Eden Foods’ frontline commitments to organic, natural, and sustainable foods and practices. Eden Foods has been an industry leader in maintaining organic standards and bringing BPA-free packaging to the U.S. market. The Co-op carries a lot of Eden Foods products (almost 100). Removing their product outright would significantly change our store inventory. Potential replacement products may cost more, and may not have as pure packaging. Some products may simply be no longer available to the Co-op.

However, our Co-op also strives to support a healthy, just, and tolerant food system in which workers are valued and compensated fairly across the board. Out of respect for the diverse values of our Owners and a commitment to transparency, we now bring the question of whether or not the Co-op should continue to carry Eden Foods products to the Ownership itself.

To address Owner concerns, the Co-op has initiated a 30 day Owner comment period on Eden Foods. At the end of the comment period, we will use this input to determine the status of their product. We are currently in the process of updating our Boycott Policy so that we will have a more structured process for Owners to initiate the comment period in the future.

Please share any comments or questions below. We want to hear from Owners with any opinion on the matter (drop the product, keep the product, only drop what you can replace with other brands, etc.). Owners must be logged in to comment. Please visit here to create an online account. Owners may also comment anonymously via our contact us page. We will add anonymous Owners’ comments to the discussion. The comment period will close on August 2, 2014. Thank you for participating in your Co-op.

For a list of all 99 of the Eden Foods products we currently carry or have recently carried, click here.

The comment period closed August 2. We received a number of paper comments over the weekend, and per the statement made by Brendon Smith, we are adding comments that came in from Owners via our Contact Us page and Customer Comment slips during the appropriate comment period anonymously. Here is a comment that came in on 07/24/2014:

"I agree w/ a boycott of Eden Organics. We love their salt, mirin, etc. but fill find other brands to buy."

The comment period closed August 2. We received a number of paper comments over the weekend, and per the statement made by Brendon Smith, we are adding comments that came in from Owners via our Contact Us page and Customer Comment slips during the appropriate comment period anonymously. Here is a comment that came in on 8/2/2014:

"I can do w/o Eden Products at the coop to 'make the statement' that we support women's health care coverage as a coop."

The comment period closed August 2. We received a number of paper comments over the weekend, and per the statement made by Brendon Smith, we are adding comments that came in from Owners via our Contact Us page and Customer Comment slips during the appropriate comment period anonymously. Here is a comment that came in on 7/26/2014:

"Please discontinue Eden Foods. While I do eat their products - I can't after their legal action against birth control access for their employees. I will stop buying Eden foods. And I think our co-op should stand against them as well."

The comment period closed August 2. We received a number of paper comments over the weekend, and per the statement made by Brendon Smith, we are adding comments that came in from Owners via our Contact Us page and Customer Comment slips during the appropriate comment period anonymously. Here is a comment that came in on 07/25/2014:

"Please continue to stock Eden brand products. I appreciate that they are independently owned/not 'corporate organics.'"

The comment period closed August 2. We received a number of paper comments over the weekend, and per the statement made by Brendon Smith, we are adding comments that came in from Owners via our Contact Us page and Customer Comment slips during the appropriate comment period anonymously. Here is a comment that came in on 07/25/2014:

"Please continue to stock Eden brand products. I appreciate that they are independently owned/not 'corporate organics.'"

The comment period closed August 2. We received a number of paper comments over the weekend, and per the statement made by Brendon Smith, we are adding comments that came in from Owners via our Contact Us page and Customer Comment slips during the appropriate comment period anonymously. Here is a comment that came in on 7/31/2014:

"I've thought a lot about a Co-op boycott of Eden Foods and have concluded that a decision whether or not to boycott shoudl be left to the individual consumer. I believe that the Co-op should continnue to carry Eden products because the company has many practices that are consistent with the Co-op's principles."

The comment period closed August 2. We received a number of paper comments over the weekend, and per the statement made by Brendon Smith, we are adding comments that came in from Owners via our Contact Us page and Customer Comment slips during the appropriate comment period anonymously. Here is a comment that came in on 08/02/2014:

"I do not support removing Eden Organic products from your shelves. I do not agree that their business model is wrong. Thank you."

The comment period closed August 2. We received a number of paper comments over the weekend, and per the statement made by Brendon Smith, we are adding comments that came in from Owners via our Contact Us page and Customer Comment slips during the appropriate comment period anonymously. Here is a comment that came in on 7/29/2014:

"Re: the question of whether or not to boycott Eden Foods.... Okay so this is a tough issue, but for me the answer is clear. Plesae continue to offer Eden products, and let individual cusotmers choose whether or not to puchase them. I for one will continue to seek them out. If you do not stock them, I will have to order direct from the company. Because while I disagree with Eden's choices about the company health care coverage, I have the upmost respect for their continuing to provide what I regard as among the most consistently hight quality foods on the market. Other companies start out making high quality foods, but gradually add undesireable elements or otherwise change their products over time - someitmes without making this clear on their labels. Eden is reliable in this regard. Our Co-op and Eden Foods have at least two goals in common: 1. Both want to make wholesome nutritious food available to buyers. 2. Both want to treat people fairly according to their beliefs. I will also propose a #3 that applies to both, i.e. when ther is a choice between #1 and #2, #1 has to take priority."

The comment period closed August 2. We received a number of paper comments over the weekend, and per the statement made by Brendon Smith, we are adding comments that came in from Owners via our Contact Us page and Customer Comment slips during the appropriate comment period anonymously. Here is a comment that came in on 8/1/2014:

The comment period closed August 2. We received a number of paper comments over the weekend, and per the statement made by Brendon Smith, we are adding comments that came in via our Contact Us page and Customer Comment slips during the appropriate comment period anonymously. Here is a comment that came in on 8/1/2014:

"Prints relative to Eden: 1) The first duty of the board it to encourage the viability of the coop. Losing a large number of suppliers won't achieve this. Please reject a boycott. 2). Members who oppose Eden's actions can individually reject Eden products. 3) The board can convey to Eden the displeasure of many of its' members. 4) It there is a boycott, how does this affect members who don't want a boycott."

The comment period closed August 2. We received a number of paper comments over the weekend, and per the statement made by Brendon Smith, we are adding comments that came in via our Contact Us page and Customer Comment slips during the appropriate comment period anonymously. Here is a comment that came in on 07/27/2014:

"Please ask Eden Foods to amend its policy on health insurance for women."

The comment period closed August 2. We received a number of paper comments over the weekend, and per the statement made by Brendon Smith, we are adding comments that came in via our Contact Us page and Customer Comment slips during the appropriate comment period anonymously. Here is a comment that came in on 07/24/2014:

The comment period closed August 2. We received a number of paper comments over the weekend, and per the statement made by Brendon Smith, we are adding comments that came in via our Contact Us page and Customer Comment slips during the appropriate comment period anonymously. Here is a comment that came in on 07/28/2014:

"Due to reports that Eden Foods is following the Hobby Lobby example to restrict female employee's choice regarding healthcare, I request that you no longer carry Eden Foods in your stores. I will not purchase any Eden Foods products."

The comment period closed August 2. We received a number of paper comments over the weekend, and per the statement made by Brendon Smith, we are adding comments that came in via our Contact Us page and Customer Comment slips during the appropriate comment period anonymously. Here is a comment that came in on 07/22/2014:

"I will no longer be buying Eden Foods products because of their stance on providing insurance coverage for birth control. I would like Willy to consider not carrying their products."

I've read comments here with which I didn't agree, but at least they were well reasoned. I think we have some common ground, but I've also seen a lot of hysteria with no concern whatsoever for the facts of this matter.

I don't presume to tell other owners what they should buy or not buy. There are many products that are sold at the Co-op that I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole, but that doesn't mean I think that no one else should be able to purchase them. It should be each members' choice. However, hormonal contraception is unnatural. It floods women's bodies, (and our environment) with synthetic hormones that are a Group 1 carcinogen, and also supports big Pharma. That goes against my values and the "claimed" values of other members of this Co-op. It seems very contradictory to want to boycott an all natural food company because they don't want to pay for Group 1 carcinogens. The better option is "Natural Family Planning". I do not think a boycott is beneficial to the members of this Co-op or to the women who work for Eden foods. Is financially hurting Eden foods somehow supposed to help the women who work there? And what about all the family farms they support? As Kirsten Moore stated in the Reader, "...few, if any of the products we carry meet all our ideals". Thank you to the board members for your consideration.

You make some excellent points. I am female, but I, too, am not in favor of using unnatural, synthetic hormones, and I am ESPECIALLY not in favor of supporting Big Pharma. Birth control pills promote an overgrowth of candida and can have other side effects, including lowering libido. You are also correct that if Eden goes out of business due to boycotts, it's going to have an impact not just on them, but also on the family farmers they support. Thank you for bringing up points I hadn't thought of before.

I would like the coop to boycott all Eden Foods products. Business has no place in determining employees' health care decisions. This is a terrible precedent. Boycotting the products is the only ethical response to Eden Foods heavy handedness. I trust that the coop board will respond appropriately to this insidious infringement of workers rights.

I don't support a boycott of Eden Foods, though I strongly disagree with the moral and political stance taken by their CEO, and weakly disagree with the idea that, in our current circumstances, the ethical stance of employers should qualify them for exceptions to health care provisions. In addition, I find the CEO's comments snide and arrogant. But...

Rather than a boycott, which I see as a simple reaction, I'd like to see a more nuanced response. I'd like to see us ask the questions, "What opportunities for discussion, action, change does this circumstance provide? What is the root of the problem, and how can we change that? What do we desire?" I personally think that employers should have no involvement at all in the provision of health care for their employees. I think the CEO of Eden would agree. I also think that everyone has a right to extraordinarily accessible health care. The CEO may or may not agree with that, but, were he to desire to get out of the pickle he's in most effectively, he'd go along with it--whether that access is to be obtained by a state-sponsored universal care program, or by drastically reconfiguring the medical and insurance industries so that everyone, regardless of income, can personally afford the care they desire or need. We should be urging all employers to support a system that benefits everyone, and showing them that this also supports making their lives easier.

This forum isn't the place to debate what health care strategy we find desirable--but keeping the focus on a boycott is, I think, distracting us from having that discussion, and others, and therefore from creatively moving toward a better situation by trying to change a system that will only lead to this problem again and again. I don't think a series of store-wide boycotts is the best move toward that goal, at least not in this case.

(Ok, and as a side note, I want to point out that Eden is the only company I know of to provide tomatoes in glass jars. This is important, given the increasing documentation that, not only BPA, but every known BPA substitute, is extremely hazardous to our health. Folks may have mentioned that product line, but I haven't seen it here. It ain't just soy, friends!).

In addition to providing tomatoes in glass jars, Eden is the only company that soaks their beans prior to canning them. Some other companies use pressure cookers, but soaking is the best way to make beans more digestible. For this reason, I only buy Eden beans and would prefer to support the coop rather than buying them at Whole Foods.

I think that we should stop carrying Eden Foods products and remove them from the shelves, until they (1) publicly apologize for their support of the lawsuit, and (2) agree not to do anything of the kind in the future. This is a tough decision, and I can see the merits of both sides. For me, the tipping factor is that a boycott actually has a good chance of succeeding in this particular case. Eden Foods' customer base is a relatively small portion of the total population, and the fact is that their actions are repugnant to a large majority of this base. We need to let them know how we feel in a clear and unambiguous fashion, and spread the word widely. I think there is a good chance for a widespread boycott movement to arise, which would force Eden Foods to either change their ways or go out of business.

I have already decided not to purchase any more products from Eden Foods, no matter what the Co-op as a whole decides. Other companies such as Westbrae make very similar products, so it hasn't impacted my shopping at all.

While I do not support Eden's political agenda, I do appreciate their selection of traditional Japanese ingredients such as dried sea vegetables (Kombu, etc) and bonito flakes (normally hard to find in an American market). If an equally high quality replacement product could be found, I wouldn't mind going that route. However, losing choice and availability of these products at the Coop would personally be a bigger loss to me than our differing political viewpoints.

I oppose the actions of Eden Foods, and am an ardent supporter of women's reproductive rights. But I do not support removing its products from the Co-op. I believe each consumer should make their own decision about whether or not to buy Eden Foods products. I support the Co-op posting educational info on the shelves along with its products. I have e-mailed Eden Foods and expressed my disagreement with them, and told them that if I buy one of their products I will make a contribution to Planned Parenthood.

In reading the Eden statement I was struck by the following: " Since the inception of the Affordable Care Act all employees have all coveragesrequired by the act, even those who do not want it." We should all be more outraged at how many of us are paying for coverages we don't want. I personally prefer natural and alternative medicine and yet pay considerably into the system of traditional medical care in the USA.

Ironically for many years before Willy St acquired USA grown adzuki beans I purchased USA grown adzuki beans through Eden's online store, there by boycotting Willy St's China grown adzuki beans! Willy St may not like everything Eden does, but I don't like everything Willy St does etiher!

Per the statement made by Brendon Smith, we are adding comments that come in via our Contact Us page and Customer Comment slips anonymously. Here is a comment that came in on 07/12/2014:

"Dump all products from Eden company. As a household with 4 female members,w e find no value in the Willy St. Co-op continuing to sell Eden products and financial support that company and family. Thanks."

Per the statement made by Brendon Smith, we are adding comments that come in via our Contact Us page and Customer Comment slips anonymously. Here is a comment that came in on 07/12/2014:

"Regarding some concerns about Eden foods etc and tensions their owners have with interpretations about individual freedom: As a co-op that works to empower individuals and the group, would it be possible to examine which products we sell from Eden and acutal vs. percieved demand. Also, info cards with links to online resources may be helpful in aiding customers (and owners) choose whether or not they wish to "support" Eden foods w/ an item one considers for purchase The calculus of effective personal action is no simple convenient task. What does Eden do right? or have done well vs the current company decisions? It's employees? Rather than engaging in hasty group decisions I'd prefer more info and discussion. Have we as a link in Eden's supply chain attempted to contact regarding divergent beliefs? I apologies for perhaps not citing existing debate or discussion byt I hope we can just dissolve the issue with information, informed debate and perhaps enabling owner's to make their own decision as a shopper instead of a group member."

Per the statement made by Brendon Smith, we are adding comments that come in via our Contact Us page and Customer Comment slips anonymously. Here is a comment that came in on 07/18/2014:

"I would like to see the Coop discontinue selling Eden products. I don't think that birth control is a 'lifestyle' choice. Viagra may be a lifestyle choice but birth control is a matter of a woman's overall health choices. Religion is a personal matter not a public corporate matter. I don't need a response - I am casting my vote regarding this issue."

Per the statement made by Brendon Smith, we are adding comments that come in via our Contact Us page and Customer Comment slips anonymously. Here is a comment that came in on 07/28/2014:

"In the 'Cap Times' article Eden Food was compared to Hobby Lobby - I feel that this is comparing apples to oranges - when one looks at business practices. Hobby Lobby seems to be anti aborition - but at the same buys their stuff from China - a country that had enforced abortions - Is it okay to be hypocritical if money is involved? What kind of supplies does Eden deal with?"

Per the statement made by Brendon Smith, we are adding comments that come in via our Contact Us page and Customer Comment slips anonymously. Here is a comment that came in on 07/13/2014:

"I do not support a Coop boycott of Eden products while the company decisions/choices regarding employee health care is very sad, they are one of the better companys with respect to organic standards. Please allow customers to decide individually whether to boycott or not rather than imposing a boycott on customers which would remove an earth-friendly (if less than person friendly) choice. Thanks."

Per the statement made by Brendon Smith, we are adding comments that come in via our Contact Us page and Customer Comment slips anonymously. Here is a comment that came in on 07/25/2014:

"I am in favor of keeping Eden Products. I chip for almost all purchases and I do so knowing there are a variety of differences amoung us. I would like to think we can support differences. It would be nice not to have polarization over groceries - people should be allowed to be believe what they choose. I feel they bring a great product to the coop."

Per the statement made by Brendon Smith, we are adding comments that come in via our Contact Us page and Customer Comment slips anonymously. Here is a comment that came in on 07/25/2014:

"Re the Eden contorversy: Of course Eden should offer the total health care package BUT boycotting their wonderful products is tantamount to tilting at windmills. Boycotts rarely work and are a marked based solution, which is not the best option. I have always thought the co-op needs to carry more, not fewer, Eden products. Not sure which products the co-op would substitute for Eden's products as Eden products are usually the best! Therefore, count me as a 'No' to boycorring Eden's as this boycott is not going to work + will only furhter decay the health-promoting options offered by Willy's. If I ruled the universe, all the chips and sugar-containing cans of pop would be replaced by more Eden products."

I envy the certainty of many of the posters here. I've had a hard time with this decision, because to me it's a matter of balancing a number of different considerations. In the end, I am not in favor of the Coop boycotting Eden Foods.

For one thing, it is too early for such a drastic action. We would be punishing the company and its owner for the owner's beliefs and expression, not for any action. What if Eden Foods was to lose its suit, and coops across the nation had boycotted it? There is no sign at all that the company would violate the law, yet the business may have suffered irrecoverably.

I don't see any ethical or exploitative misbehavior on the company's part (and I know many Coop members will disagree with that opinion). Against the totality of the company's ways of producing its products and treating its employees, I see its stance on the ACA's contraceptives policy as a matter of conscience. It is a stance I unequivocably disagree with, but I can not characterize it as discrimination on the company's part.

If the company does win its case, then I believe its reinstating its health insurance policy that existed before the ACA will have a discriminatory effect against women. So, how does that jibe with what I just said one sentence earlier? The discriminatory effect would be a result of bad policy and politics at the federal level--specifically, the presidential appointments that have resulted in our current, intensely activist, pro-corporate Supreme Court, just as a previous poster pointed out. I cannot fault a company for legally exercising its rights when its general corporate profile is not one of exploiting workers and consumers. I don't think this company is a proper target for a Coop boycott.

I also am a little concerned about the possible impact on the Coop of giving up this line of products, which includes what could be considered staples for some people. Once shoppers go elsewhere for basic goods, the impact on the Coop could extend beyond Eden Foods products. If the argument against Eden Foods was an open-and-shut case in my mind, the economic impact on the Coop would not enter into my thinking. But as I said, for me this is far from the case.

For these reasons, I favor leaving consumer action regarding Eden Foods up to the individual rather than the Coop. I actually agree with much of what has been expressed by individuals favoring a boycott, but I've limited my comments to the points that ultimately tilted my thinking toward no boycott.

I urge the Co-op to get rid of Eden Foods. I understand that their products are of decent quality and environmentally sound, but it sounds as though there are alternatives for many of them. I've been carrying on a personal boycott since last year in light of their position in this matter, and I am glad that more people are taking action and that the company is taking heat. Potter's position on contraceptives is incoherent, and it's only his lawyer who can articulate a religious objection. More than that, the idea that an employer's religious objection should dictate what an employee does with her compensation is truly disturbing, and it's appalling that anyone would defend that. The Eden Foods statement is insulting and provides all the more reason to no longer carry their products. Individual boycotts don't do much - it would send a much more effective message if the Co-op took a stand. As for this taking away consumer choice, well, the Co-op already makes a lot of such choices for consumers. I'm dismayed by the number of comments here that suggest that women's health and autonomy should be secondary, and that we should wait to address women's issues until everything else in the world is fixed. We've been hearing that line forever, and I know I'm sick of waiting.

I'm fond of saying that a free consumer is the best regulator, and I believe boycotts are a great tool. However, endorsing a boycott at the store level is taking away the customer's choice, denying both their power and their personal opinion, however nuanced. Attempting to govern our suppliers this way, especially on non-food issues, could empty our shelves and alienate customers. Customers who dislike the actions of any company can and should stop supporting them, individually. We shouldn't be making those decisions for them.

BOYCOTT EDEN!! It shouldn't matter whether its a company that sells hobbies, organic food or rainbow unicorns, this company believes its right to discriminate and step in as a middleman between you and your health care and make decisions. The fact that the company compares birth control to viagra shows how unsciefntific and barbaric their biblical views are. I don't understand comments about how it isn't right to get involved in this; how laughable, this is exactly why you join a co-op, so you can have this kind of power. If i was a member of a co-op that bought from hobby lobby I'd be doing the same thing, I wish I had this power in every store I shop at.

"Our case is against government overreach and about religious freedom." Eden is overreaching into my private life and infringing on my religious freedom if they are not willing to let me choose what "myopic pharmaceutical medicine"* I want to use.

No one is forcing anyone to use something just because it is available. Everyone should have the same coverages available. What an individual uses is their choice -- get that: CHOICE / FREEDOM. You know, like in religious freedom. If certain forms of birth control are against your religion or beliefs then don't use them. But if they're not against your beliefs but not available (as decided by an employer), then that employer has overreached by denying your freedom.

Eden does not have the right to decide to deny the rights of someone else. Companies are now required by law to follow the ACA.

I recently used up my jar of Eden Brown Mustard. I just bought a different brand.